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magnoliamyrrh · 2 years

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What drove you to convert to islam?

well, thats a long story now

i was born and raised orthodox - ive always had a complicated relationship with religion, because on the one hand there is a lot of beauty, peace, and wisdom i found in it, on the other hand theres plenty of shit that either just didnt make sense to me, theologically speaking, and also a bunch of mostly sexist shit which really pissed off me since i was a kid. i do have a lot of religious trauma - mostly from my fathers side of the family who is much more orthodox, conservative, traditional, and who very much shoved religion (and a bunch of sexist shit) down my throath, got the idea of being inherently sinful in my head as a kid, whole bunch of shit. my father is also.... psychotic and he is what we call a habotnic, a religious extremist who, well, has bordderrrline essentially more or less joined a cult-like section of the orthodox church made up mostly of men whod been kicked out of the church (many who also happen to be pedos lmao rip) and i grew up with religion being used to justify a whole bunch of horrible shit - shit he did to me, how he treats and abuses his wife, etc

so, when i got older, 11-12 ish, i very much had a backlash against it. nevermind being an atheist, nevermind an edgy atheist faze, i outright hated it and found it to be wholly dangerous. and i did indeed have valid complaints mostly abt sexism, homophobia, hypocrisy, etc. at the same time, i had a fascination with dissecting religion and trying to understand it and studying it, something i had even before then. this went on for some years, and i continued to have an interest in theology; eventually, when i was idk 14ish, i started to have some softer and more malluable views on religion and orthodoxy - also coincided w understanding that religion wasnt what made my father an insane piece of shit, it was simply a tool he used to justify things and a path he went down on - but he could have gone insane down whatever other line

so, for a time i tried to get back into orthodoxy. this was partially from a spiritual perspective, but tbh moreso bc i was trying to keep onto something which reminded me of home in this damn empty and cold country. this is when i started to veil too, before i had anything at all to do w islam, i started praying, i started keeping onto certain traditions more. also when i got into traditional romanian magic moreso. still, i may have been trying to take the best of orthodoxy, but i felt like it never really... fit. there is a lot of beauty i still find in it to this day, and occasionally i still go to a monestary or church, i still hold onto certain traditions but no matter how hard i tried i never quite... felt it? .... and either way, after you have gone through a certain amount of horror in life, it tends to get harder to believe in things like the divinity of everything or that theres any possible sense at all to all the horrid cruelty on this planet etc etc.... i do still struggle w this to this day lol. but. also, i knew christianity so well, had already turned it on every which side, i found that even if i tried, i still had a long series of theological issues with it (many of which i dont remember after all these years, but i do remember that the trinity was one of them)

anyhow, i did keep trying for awhile. and in this whole process, i kept coming across things abt islam. this was also the years when islam was always in the news, usually in a negative light or something abt terrorism, so, it was quite frequently part of mainstream discussions. and i was curious, bc of that, bc i was curious abt theology in general, and bc partially growing up in dobrogea, i knew a very gentle and soft, beautiful islam which was the one of the turks and tatars, who were our neighbors w good food and good music and gentle, soft spoken voices like honey who were always nice to me. and i knew of islam from story books and such, one of my favourite childhood books to this day is a beautifully drawn romanian version of one thousand and one nights. so, idk, i kept coming across things, and i was curious so i looked into it

and... hm. i dont remember quite what first got me. but i did find it interesting, and i found that it solved some of the theological issues and gaps that i had with christianity, answered quesions to which the orthodox seemed to have no answer, made things click into place here and there, annuled some of the illogical loops and hypocricy which bothered me.. i found the analysis and discussion around it fascinating, so much more lively than ones i had seen in orthodoxy. i found the way hadith and quran functioned together to be fascinating, and the entire system behind it - even if today i hold different views of hadith.... i found sharia to be fascinating - and how things would fit into place and work together, shifting parts of a whole legal system and way of life intertwined. sharia always carries such a scary connotation to so many people, and yet, i dont think its a system bound neither to failure neither to opression - the question here is moreso whose sharia interpreted by who and implemented by who. i didnt have any plan to convert to it lol, and yet, it intrigued me enough that i felt a drive to keep digging and digging into it, to keep turning over in my head this and that about it, like some string or force was pulling me

most of all i think i found the qur'an itself to be.. captivating, once curiousity got to me and i started reading it. like sharia, it clearly had to be understood as a whole, and reading it for the first time and seeings its progression and how it builds upon itself was an experience in and of itself. i genuinely enjoyed spending hours reading and listening abt what this means what that meant etc. and it is so direct and personal, moreso than many other religious texts. i did find many parts of it stricking, moving, piercing. its prose and flow are beautiful. it feels alive, as if it is speaking to you, looking back into your eyes and right through your soul. i fell in love with it. and yet, it also feels like this capsule in time - while i no longer hold the commonly held idea that the qur'an is unchanged and there is only one, it can be said that as far as studies can tell from the oldest quranic manuscripts found, it is indeed remarkably well preserved - as if reading the pages you can hear and see them echo throughout time, back to when the words were first spoken..... quran recitation is very beatiful too, and i found there to be something... very meditative, tranquil, calm, soothing in it. something else that felt like it echoed through time. it also reminded me of the way orthodox priests give sermons, which i always found very beautiful and entrancing as well

i appreciated its call for reason, that i do remember particularly drew me in. that it would repetedly, repetedly call for one to question and think and it would give examples of the existence of divinity and explanations and even ask one to try to disprove things- it felt less like blind faith, more like this book was holding an active dialogue with you, and i really liked that. many of them are so beatiful too, many of them call upon nature and its wonders, and i supoose, even when my belief in a god was on very shaky ground, in nature i always saw divinity anyhow. i did find it interesting too how many of the verses did show an understanding of natural phenomenon, could be interpreted in a way which was less science-breaking than the bible, and called upon these phenomenon as signs of divinity.... and i appreciated its call to justice as well, its striving for a just system, society, and way of life. i appreciated its call to struggle for the sake of allah - jihad, which doesnt only mean wartime fighting (which is supoosed to be a very last resort).... its call for the end of opression, and the responsability of each person to do something about ending said opression and injustice

i found its understanding of god to be beautiful, and to make sense - my understanding of this developed more later when i came across sufism, and when i started doing shrooms too lol, but. i always felt the heart of it. which is the oneness of god, pure monotheism; because god is one, and god is indeed all that exists; indeed, everything is one. this is the same thing psychedelics teach you - ego death as its often called - and what many religious rituals of plenty of religions around this world seek to understand, achieve, feel, live by. it could be said that since there are high chances human conciousness developed along w psychedelic use, and since our african ancestors certainly did psychedelics, we are indeed genetially and biologically programmed as a part of our evolution and history to experience and understand ego death - to see and feel and become the connection and thread which runs through everything, the oneness of everything, the singularity of everything, unbound by time. this is what islam seeks as well.... hm. i liked that islam understood allah, unlike in christianity in which god is reffered to almost exclusively as a father sort of figure, to be not like any other thing, and most certainly not male. unbound, unconstrained, never fully knowable to us as humans..the 99 names of allah are beatiful, and i was drawn in by how many times the qur'an proclaimed allah to be all merciful, all forgiving, all loving, etc

.... there was something about it all, the more i looked into it, which brought me a sense of peace, calmness, ease... i found the way of life it promoted to be one of peace - i liked that you were supposed to pray five times a day, i liked that there were certain ways of doing things, i liked that muslims lived like the older romanian people did, always mentioning the name of allah and always aware of divinity. the idea of freedom not being getting to do whatever you may please, but rather living by a series of constraints, to make much sense - and i was drawn to it a lot more than this modern western do what you want individual freedom reigns supreme mindset... i liked that sharia was concerned with the common good and community before it was concerned with the individual.. i liked that islam promoted a middle path, i liked that it called for moderation and reason (things which my father never had), and showed a way of life which was almost monk-like, without leading to monastic seclusion.... i had always wanted to be a nun, you see, and parts of islam drew me in because of that. there were certainly many muslims, mainly sisters, who impressed me in their faith and way of life, the energy and aura that would clearly radiate off of them - women who lead by example, and by only doing so, would make one curious as to how they have come to be this way

i had an interest in other religions as well. i knew some of my ancestors were jewish, and yet judaism is a hard religion to convert to, and harder to be accepted into - and while i have read the old testament several times, i never quite felt a strong connection to it. i was fond of other christian denominations like the quakers for example, i found some of the theological points of protestants to be intriguing, but i still had many of the same issues with it. i find hinduism, buddhism, and sikhism to be beautiful religions with much wisdom - and to an extent being fond of certain kinds of sufism is to adopt a hindu or south east asian influence or to reach similar understandings at least; they are sister religions - but while i look into them, they never really felt like something id follow; not on their own

islam brought me a sense of home, it all did. so much of it simply made sense to me and clicked into place, it felt like learning something i had already known, discovering something that had always been within myself - i supoose, this is why we use the word revert rather than covert, because it feels more like coming back into the fold of islam..... and hm. both arab and turkish cultures felt... very much like home to me, never like something foreign. they made sense, i instantly understood them, both the good and bad parts - so many things were so similar to our own, and to me, they felt, and still do feel, like a second home. later after some years of converting when id go to masjids and eid and such, i again very much found that among the arabs i felt so much more at home than i ever did among the americans. and islam itself, there are many things which i saw which were so similar to orthodoxy, and this brought me a sense of comfort and home as well. and i always associated islam too with the turks and tatars in dobrogea, and so, islam never felt like a foreign thing to me - as converting to another religion may have - rather the religion and culture of our neighbors whom we had so much in common with

.... it just.. it really felt like there was some force pulling me, i had a unending thirst and drive to understand more. id get lost in spending hours reading the quran, id get lost in spending hours trying to understand it. id spend the nights awake reading and contemplating..... i dont know if it makes sense, but i dont mean this in a meme way - it very much felt like islam chose me, not like i chose it. it very much felt like i had become muslim before i had made any such decision, my soul had already made it for me, and i was the one who later realized and accepted it. islam, the word, comes from the word submission, sometimes said to mean peace in submission. i had already felt it in my bones, the submission to its truth and allah, the onesess of everything, before i realized it. it simply was - looking back, it was a very similar feeling to the one you get on psychedelics. you simply.. understand.... i knew my family would likely forsake me. i knew my country outside of dobrogea would forsaken me. i knew many muslims would forsake me for being gay.... but even if i had wished to go back, it was too late, for i had already seen, and felt, and understood, and there was no denial left. alhamdulilah, i do thank allah for guiding me, for it certainly felt like being guided

i have never known as much peace as i knew in those first, hm, months and years, despite the fact that things were hard back then, especially with my family, and my parents were at the peak of being abusive. i never felt such a connection to god and everything, such a suredness, groundedness, and strengh of faith...... it is something i miss, and i regret that these days i do not often pray the five daily prayers, and do not keep fast as often as i did, and do not live with allah in my heart as much. inshallah, i will get back on the path. i did used to be a lot more orthodox back then, islamically orthodox. and as the years passed my relationship with islam and allah changed, and when i came across sufism for the first time, i realized that it was the heart and soul of the religion which i knew, had felt myself, and had been searching for

i believe there is truth in all religions, they are different paths to take, different understandings which seek the same goal. i do not believe in sects, nor do i believe in devision between religions much... we all have our paths; my understandings of islam may have changed over the years, and i may have had, and still have, my struggles, but this will always be the home and refuge of my soul, and the path i walk

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xrskunkrx · 7 months

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Religious War

Sol vs Spirit:

Low key, just nocking, the eve after we see particles & adam’s letting Lucifer to Lilith in light, darkness follows onto annu that forecast the race to start. Mankind sets aside to go forth, humanity drums in, earth dreidels through to draw the line on accuracy to things to be equated. Perhaps we’re all on drugs.. perhaps some just be trippin’ *funguy*

Equanox, under the Ahnk over the Arch. It’s simply black & white, or was it nori? Red dead rabbit scrolls with chroma hands. World gets native components installed. *JaHa*

SYN is incorporated into the baseless movement that hinders the hand. The sole frequency tethered between pathways are positioned through our way about things. God can be held, yet its capable sense is through the minds of all when gathered. A universe eye through the firminate is plasma scattering a neural network. An idol can save a flock or it can be brought across unsaved livestock by fear, falsely assumed reason now spreads sickness towards the farm. It’s full circle begins a trial like no other. Should have known, it was go time… :x’dot, the line’____.

Custodians with mops & dusters. Buckets, cans & bowls is what made the world. Greatest sun you ever seen was the landscape, it was cool, than the annunoki, humanity coming like two birds fighting over hearts. Rowing & Jogging to a pair, I by I land sea & air.

Only II resigned, world votes spiritually across V, I sits to the east.

Religious belief aims to destroy one side over the other’s humanity. Without any capable means, the human race puts no end in sight for white heads until idol hands anti lives over the cryss equating total anarchy in these days. Vday 2024 1:11AM

Byzantine, puts up a trademark; twin keeps/towers. Constantine writes our bibles. Free Masonry, free carpentry & chemistry was only valid to break down the composition of materials. Paid by the corporate tax bracket, or what can be still found via the Victorian taxation. Along with the university institutions, what would resemble churches, colleges or varsity taxed states; facilities paid by taxes for the community.

Much has been said already, we had indeed seen hi tech utopia in our days. Yet, the world put forth on the hue of man to see our true colors. Red, Green, Blue & Yellow. Hands rowing the boat, Japan & Hawaiian. Put your hands together, pray & sea, lands side by side.

Dreidel turns a new page for Christianity. Putting another end to the blasphemy of the Vatican, whom takes the world in ruin due to the race. Attempts to devour the spirit is persistently toppling across the globe. After decades of attempts, now turns to ancient mankind & their homeland, America. While in recent years, the toll has picked up greatly, ending white & black lives. The support of the race is almost in jeopardy, as lives are lost the human race is undermined. Fact is, only one rages war, only one seeks complete destruction of the world, only one lies & deceives their own; it’s in the holy sea, now the so called regime aka military, U.S. Gov. the murder & genocide happening inside America, that hits our neighbors & across the shore. The children held hostage within Illinois need help.

#r1V3r #13Rx

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hotmessexpress2023 · 1 year

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The greatest Servant

As God's children we cannot be above serving! We must recognize the king of kings didn't come to be served but to sacrifice his life as ransom for many for the sake and salvation of them. We ought to pay attention do not just do impressive things to be seen. Do not pray extravagant prayers just to be heard. Do not take the highest position simply to be known instead engage the outcast, feed the hungry, heal the sick, help the hurting, stop for the broken, wash dirty feet, and lay down your life.

As a servant we learn the responsibility to the kingdom and to love others. Servis is an act of love, service is a selfless and generous act.

Revelations 4:11

2 Corinthians 4:17

Proverbs 18:24

Matthew 20:28

Our obedience can be fleeting.

We unintentionally put God on the back burner, and we go about our way and when things begin to get out of hand again, we can't fig out why. Thats when we begin praying again. We are not much different from the Israelite's are we. Get on track and stay on track. God is so ever gracious and patient with us, way more than we deserve.

Gelation's 5:22-23

The Spirit produces positive character traits or Christian graces. The graces indicate a changed heart that will naturally keep the law of God. Love is the fulfilling of the law. Ther is no valid law against these virtues or any actions that flow out of them.

Where do you or even I need Healing?

Blindness is Obvious but spiritual emotional or psychological healing can be hidden even from ourselves. Those whose specialty include marketing or advertising are well aware in this. sometimes it's hard to see what we really need or are hard to admit Jesus is our doctor who knows where our deepest wounds are found and is waiting for us to come to him that we may be healed. We need to have faith in Jesus to bring our wounds to the light and love of his healing power. We first need courage to face them. God wants us t take advantage of every opportunity to ask for healing.

James 4:17

Go from going to church to being the church. DO what you're supposed to be doing, you are called to be a doer of the word. James is a letter full of wisdom for our daily lives. James was Jesus' brother. He provides the definition of sin/ James says sin is when we know what we ought to do, and we don't do it. The Holy Spirit is within us to guide us and teach us. We have no excuse for not knowing the right thing to do in almost any situation, because God tells us how to act. The beauty of the gospel is that if we sin against God, we can still come to him and confess our sins. God says when we confess, he forgives.

2 Corinthians 8:20-21

You are to strive for a life free of accusation that ring true. We are to reach for all honesty and truth so that the only report man can give is one of integrity. We should never give any man a reason to blame us for anything as we live as a minister of the gospel. IF you offend anyone strive to make peace with them. Never let offense continue for longer than a day.

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amicidomenicani · 2 years

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Question Dear Father Angelo, I would like to ask you if there is a particular prayer, novena or any other practice of piety in the doctrine of the Church or in private revelations approved by the Church that guarantees Heaven for someone. I am aware of Jesus' promise to Saint Faustina: when the chaplet of the Divine Mercy is recited next to a dying person, Jesus does not present himself as a just judge, but as a savior. However, as far as I understand, this is only valid for a person who is about to die. I would like to know if there is a particular practice of piety to guarantee Heaven even to a young man who is healthy, but who is perhaps completely far away from God and faith. I thank you for this and for all the other answers, so precious in this historical moment in which the "dictatorship of relativism" seems to have taken over, even if we have the Magisterium and the sacred scriptures, infallible sources of truth, which are unfortunately questioned even by some practicing Christians and priests. So I would like to thank you, and I thank Our Lady and our Lord Jesus Christ, who even in private revelations (although it is not mandatory to believe them), bring us back to the infallibility of the Magisterium and Sacred Scripture, and invite us to put those teachings into practice as a lamp for our steps. Praised be Jesus Christ. Andrea Answer from the priest Dear Andrea, 1. There is nothing in Sacred Scripture, nor in private revelations that I know of, that suggests a particular practice to secure the eternal salvation for a given person. 2. In private revelations, there are promises to the subject who performs certain practices. Among these, for example, there is practice for the first nine Fridays of the month: "He will not die in my misfortune" or even to the recitation of the Holy Rosary: "Whoever recites the Holy Rosary devoutly, with the meditation of the Mysteries, will be converted if he is a sinner and, if just, will grow in grace and be made worthy of eternal life” and “the devotees of my Rosary at the hour of death will not die without the Sacraments”. 3. The reason is clear: there is nothing so personal as conversion and the will to return to God to live in communion with Him. 4. Our prayers can help others on the journey of conversion. For this reason, in Sacred Scripture, we read: "The fervent prayer of the righteous person is very powerful" (James 5:16), but our prayers cannot replace the prayers that others don’t say. 5. Beyond the practices of piety, which are always useful for everything, we have the Holy Mass. St. John Vianney said: "When Our Lord is on the altar during Holy Mass, as soon as we pray to him for sinners, He throws rays of light towards them to discover their miseries and convert them" (See C. Journet, La Messe, p. 177; F. Trochu, The Curé of Ars, p. 637). 6. During the Holy Communion we have Jesus who comes into our hearts with hands full of graces of all kinds as Our Lord said to Saint Faustina Kowalska: "Be aware, My daughter, that when I come to a human heart in the Holy Eucharist, I have my hands full of graces of all kinds and I wish to give them to the soul"(19.11.1937). Among those "graces of all kinds" there is also that of the salvation of someone for whom we repeatedly pray. 7. Commenting on the words of Jesus, St. Thomas said: "and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world" (John 6:51) recalls that the Eucharist is the only sacrament that is not only beneficial to those who participate directly, but to everyone. Here are his precise words: “We should note that this sacrament is different from the others, for the other sacraments have individual effects: as in baptism, only the one baptized receives grace. But in the immolation of this sacrament, the effect is universal: because it affects not only the priest, but also those for whom he prays, as well as the entire Church, of the living and of the

dead. The reason for this is that it contains the universal cause of all the sacraments, Christ. And he adds that, although Holy Communion does not produce ex opere operato universal effects, because it is not sacrifice but only communion, (...) due to the intention of the person who is acting and receiving the sacrament, this can be communicated to all those to whom he directs his intention”. (Ib.). 8. The Holy Rosary prayed for the conversion and eternal salvation of a specific person, novenas, pilgrimages, alms and various practices have similar effects. I greet you, I wish you well, I remind you to the Lord and I bless you. Father Angelo

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theraccolta · 4 years

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MANNER OF HEARING MASS AT HOME by Rev. Leonard Goffine

For those who on account of sickness, old age, or for other proper reasons cannot assist at holy Mass, especially on Sundays and Holidays.

PREFATORY REMARKS.

Bear in mind, O Christian soul, that those who would with pleasure be present at the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, if it were possible, such as the sick, the infirm, the aged, fathers and mothers who must remain at home with the little children, and for other reasons, are all included in the holy Sacrifice, that is, take part in the prayers of the Church, in the blessings and merits of the Sacrifice, if they have a sincere desire for it, and, include themselves in the holy Sacrifice. The holy Sacrifice of the Mass does not belong to any one person, but is offered for all the faithful. As Christ offered Himself for all men on the cross, so He now offers Himself in an unbloody manner for all in the holy Mass, and as He offers the blessing and merits of His sacrifice on the cross to all men, all also have a part in them, who by faith, by hearty desire, by penitent sentiments, and by a life pleasing to God assist at the holy Sacrifice. And if you are kept at home, the priest prays, the Church prays, your Saviour Jesus Christ offers Himself, and the merits and blessing of the holy Sacrifice flow to you, if you only heartily desire it, and unite your prayers at home with the prayers of the priest and the whole congregation. Therefore kneel in spirit before the altar and devoutly make a GOOD INTENTION. My Father and my God, Thou knowest how sincerely I would like to assist at the Sacrifice of Thy beloved Son, my Redeemer, which is now being offered to Thee upon the altar by the hands of the priest; but obstacles as Thou knowest, prevent me. Because I cannot now be present in Thy holy house, do Thou graciously look down upon the desire of my heart, and let me have part in the prayers of Thy holy Church and in the blessing and merits of Thy divine Son, who died for me on the cross, and again offers Himself in an unbloody manner upon the altar. With the same intention with which the priest accomplishes the holy Sacrifice on the altar, I also offer it to Thee for Thy praise and glory, in thanksgiving for all gifts and graces which Thou hast granted me, to reconciliate Thee with me, a poor sinner, and for forgiveness of my sins, and with the most fervent petition, that Thou wilt be to me in my cares and afflictions a gracious Father, and for the sake of Thy Son Jesus not refuse me Thy aid. O my holy Guardian Angel, do thou stand by my side and unite thy prayers with mine, that they may be acceptable to God's Majesty, and do thou, my beloved Mother Mary, assist me that I may attend in spirit to the unbloody Sacrifice of the Mass with the same intention as thou didst have, when thou didst assist at the bloody Sacrifice of the cross. Amen. FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF MASS TO THE GOSPEL. My Lord and my God! Creator of heaven and earth, the highest Majesty! how can I presume to raise my hands and pray to Thee? Thou art infinite holiness, in whose sight even the angels are not pure, Thou art the Almighty, before whom even the blessed spirits veil their faces, and I, what am I? Nothing but a poor sinner, a little dust and ashes, who long ago deserved punishment. But Thou art also infinitely gracious and merciful. In the spirit of the deepest contrition and humility, behold, I prostrate myself before Thee with the priest and confess my fault, my great fault, my greatest fault. From my inmost heart I grieve for all my sins and crimes, earnestly beseeching Thee, O my good God and Father, to bestow forgiveness upon me. With the priest I penitently call upon Thee, have mercy on me, O Lord, have mercy on me! Thy mercy is indeed infinitely great, and a contrite heart Thou wilt never despise. And if my sorrow and contrition are not sufficient, O Father in heaven, then graciously accept the penitent tears of all the holy penitents, the dolors of my beloved Mother Mary under the cross, and the grief of Thy most tender heart for the sins of men. Graciously accept the homage which the Church offers Thee, to which I also add my poor adoration. To Thee, O God on high, be glory! Would that Thou mightest be everywhere glorified! Would that Thy most holy name might be everywhere honored and praised! For this Thou didst send Thine only begotten Son upon earth, for this, that all men might acknowledge Thee, love Thee, learn to serve Thee; and for this Thy divine Son sent His apostles over the whole earth to lead all men to the truth. O give me the grace to always acknowledge the truth which Thy Son brought to earth, and ever more faithfully observe His sacred precepts, that I may be acceptable to Thee and eternally happy. Amen. FROM THE GOSPEL TO THE CONSECRATION. Most heartfelt thanks to Thee, O God! for the Catholic faith in which I was born, and which as a little child I received, without any merit of mine, from Thy hands. O how unfortunate would I be, if like so many others I were left to wander in heresy or unbelief, never finding the light of the true faith, which shines only in the Catholic Church, to lead me to heaven! With joy I profess this my holy faith, and beseech Thee, O my God, with all my heart to grant me the grace to live always in accordance with it. For what would it avail me if I should fully believe every truth the Catholic Church teaches, if I did not also faithfully obey it? O my God, do not permit this ever to happen, do not permit me to give ear to false and evil doctrines, which are everywhere spread by vicious men; do not permit me to become weak in faith, do not permit me to be faithless to the promises I have made Thee in Baptism and holy Communion. I desire to be and to remain a child of Thy holy Church, for in this Church alone can I be happy; for she only has all the means of grace for happiness, she alone possesses the fountain of all grace, the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in which Thine only Son, Jesus, offers Himself to Thee, in order to bestow upon us all that His blood won for us on the cross. I see now, in spirit, the priest standing on the altar with bread and wine in his hands, praying to the Holy Ghost to bless these gifts, that they may be fitted to be changed into the body and blood of Thy beloved Son. I unite my heart to these consecrated gifts of sacrifice, and lay it upon the altar. I possess nothing which I could give to Thee, but a heart which can and will love Thee. O take this poor heart of mine, purify it from all sins and stains, inflame it with the fire of Thy love, and draw it near to Thee, O infinite Goodness, that it may be never more separated from Thee. At the same time I offer to Thee with my heart all its cares and anxieties. Nothing that weighs upon it, is unknown to Thee, O my God, plain before Thy eyes lie all my heart's desires. O do not permit it to desire anything displeasing to Thee, turn it entirely to Thee, and by Thy grace make it ever one with the most loving heart of Thy most loving Son, who, as long as He was upon earth, sought only that Thy will should be done upon earth as in heaven. Amen. BEFORE THE ELEVATION. Holy, holy, holy art Thou, O Triune God, and because Thou art infinitely holy, no offering can please Thee as that infinitely holy Sacrifice of Thy Son Jesus, and because Thou art infinitely just, no other Sacrifice can satisfy Thee but this one stainless Sacrifice, which Thy beloved Son accomplished on the cross, and now in an unbloody manner renews upon the altar. For the sake of this holy Sacrifice now being accomplished on the altar, I beseech Thee, O God in heaven, to graciously look down upon all true Christians and preserve them in the unity of faith and love; permit the light of truth to shine for all unbelievers and heretics, give Thy good Spirit to the *True and valid pope, our common father and head, to the bishops and priests, that they may lead the souls entrusted to them, in the way of salvation to heaven, give the grace of conversion to all poor sinners, console the afflicted, strengthen the weak, guide the erring, steady the wavering, and graciously hear the prayers of those who supplicate Thee. Remember, O best Father, my poor soul, also, bought by Thy divine Son with His blood. I confess in deepest humility and most profound sorrow, that I have often stained that soul with sin and by transgressing Thy holy commandments; give me but one drop of that Most Precious Blood, and it will become pure and pleasing to Thee. Thou knowest my desire to serve Thee with all faithfulness, O give me Thy grace, always to do Thy holy will; assist me, that I may always follow the beautiful virtues of Thy beloved Son, His humility, His peacefulness, and become thus always more and more pleasing to Thee. Do not forsake me, O merciful Father, in my crosses and afflictions, and in the heavy cares which weigh upon my heart. Give me strength to bear them, and cause all to redound to Thy honor and the salvation of my own poor soul. Aid me now, O most blessed Virgin and Mother of God, and all you saints in heaven, in this most solemn hour, when Jesus, the Lamb of God, offers Himself with your petitions, that my prayers may be heard at the throne of God, before which you stand, singing hymns of praise. You have won and are now happy, we must yet suffer and fight, aid us, that through Christ, our Saviour, we may conquer the enemies of our salvation and meet with you in heaven. Amen. AT THE ELEVATION. Most merciful Heavenly Father! Thou hast given us Thy beloved Son Jesus, and with Him all. He, Thine only Son, is now my possession, He is now present on the altar, and I presume to draw near to Him, presume to offer Him to Thee for Thy glory, in thanksgiving for all Thy graces, for forgiveness of my sins, and for the obtaining of new graces which I so much need. A thousand thanks to Thee for having given us Thy beloved Son, through whom we poor sinners have access to Thee; through Him, my Jesus, I offer to Thy great Majesty my heart, my body, my soul, everything that I am or have. I offer Thee His infinite merits for my poverty, His infinite virtues for my sinfulness, the holiness of His life upon earth for my crimes, His Most Precious Blood as my appeal for mercy. Have mercy on me, O Father in Heaven, have mercy on me! Forgive me all my offences, and permit me to be and remain Thy child. Amen. AFTER THE ELEVATION. How infinitely great, O my most loving Jesus, how perfectly incomprehensible is Thy love for us weak men who can do nothing but sin! It was not enough for Thee to die on the cross with unutterable agonies for us, and by that bloody Sacrifice reconcile us sinners with Thy just Father, opening heaven to us, but Thou wouldst daily renew it on our altars, wouldst daily descend from heaven, changing the bread into Thy Sacred Body and the wine into Thy most Precious Blood, presenting to our eyes Thy death upon the cross and giving us all its merits. O who can comprehend this Thine infinite love? And how ungrateful we are to Thee for it! Instead of loving Thee in return, instead of doing everything which is pleasing to Thee, instead of following Thee and becoming always more like Thee, we insult Thee, nail Thee anew by our sins to the cross, drive Thee from us, and follow the broad way of the world, which leads to destruction. I also, O my most loving Saviour, am one of these ingrates; O forgive me, for I am indeed sorry from my whole heart for having acted so ungratefully towards Thee. In deepest humility I fall down before Thee, confessing my offences, give me but a drop of Thy most Precious Blood; that I may be purified. Look upon me with the eyes of Thy boundless mercy, and give me the grace to love Thee with my whole heart and faithfully to serve Thee. Yes, I love Thee, O Jesus, I love Thee, and will always love Thee. Remember also, O most faithful Jesus, those who have departed from this world in faith in Thee and Thy most holy Church, remember my (parents, relations) friends, benefactors; let them share in the merits of Thy most Precious Blood, that they may obtain consolation and comfort in the tortures of purgatory and soon arrive at redemption. Amen. AT THE PRIEST'S COMMUNION. O Jesus, how unutterable is Thy love for man! Thou art not only willing to bestow upon him the merits of Thy holy Sacrifice, but desirest to give Thyself entirely to him, to nourish and strengthen his soul by Thy most Sacred Body and Blood, uniting Thyself wholly with him. How infinitely great is Thy condescension to us, Thy poor creatures! Thou who art infinite Holiness, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Lord of legions, desirest to come to us and dwell with us! Who could believe it, if Thou hadst not said it? Since it is, then, certain and true, that Thou dost visit us and dwell in our hearts, I will presume, poor sinner though I am, to draw near to Thee, to unite myself with the priest and earnestly pray and beseech Thee, O Jesus! Come to me! I am not worthy, but Thy great goodness, Thy great mercy permits me to hope, that Thou wilt not refuse to deign to come into my poor heart. I cannot, it is true, now actually receive Thee, Thy Sacred Body and Blood, with the priest, but Thou canst come to me with Thy effective grace to console, strengthen, purify, and sanctify my soul. Come, then, O Jesus, sole desire of my heart! Behold, I dedicate my heart to Thee, may it love only Thee! I dedicate my soul to Thee, may it think only of Thee and be acceptable to Thee! I dedicate my body and all its members to Thee, that they may be used only in doing good. Come, O Jesus, and make me entirely Thine, for Thee I desire to live and to die. Amen. FROM THE COMMUNION TO THE BENEDICTION. Thou hast now, O most tender Jesus, finished Thy most holy Sacrifice, Thou hast given Thyself for the honor and glory of Thy Heavenly Father, and called at His throne for grace and mercy for us. Thou hast permitted the merits of Thy most holy Sacrifice to flow into our souls. How can I thank Thee enough for it? For if I had the tongues of all the angels, I could not sufficiently praise Thee. Since I have not the power, I offer Thee the praise, adoration, and thanks of Thy holy Mother Mary and of all the saints, earnestly beseeching Thee to supply from Thy own loving heart all that I, in my poverty, cannot give Thee. Thou hast given me the grace, O Heavenly Father, to offer Thee Thy divine Son in union with the priest and the congregation, to adore and praise Thee, and to presume to offer Thee the price of the forgiveness of my sins. Thanks be to Thee for this grace. May I stand always firmly in faith in Thee and in Him, Thy only begotten Son, whom Thou hast sent, may my trust in Thee never become weakened and may I never cease to love Thee as long as I live! Amen. AT THE BENEDICTION. May ✠ God the Father, ✠ the Son, and ✠ the Holy Ghost bless me. Strengthened by this blessing, I will seek to-day and at all times to do Thy will, O Holy Trinity. I desire not only to be called Thy child, O Heavenly Father, but to be Thy child, always and at all times to fulfil Thy commandments with filial obedience. I desire not only to be Thy disciple, O Jesus, but to be Thy faithful disciple. I wish to be humble and meek, like Thee, at peace with all men, always preserving purity of body and soul, and merciful to all my fellowmen, friends, and enemies alike. I will cheerfully follow Thy inspirations, O Divine Spirit, faithfully use the graces, with which Thou overloadest me, depart from sin, and live for virtue. O Mary, blessed Mother of my Saviour, pray for me and assist me to keep my resolutions. Take me, and all for whom I am bound to pray and all my friends, under thy protection and lead us to the heaven, where thou livest in splendor, that with thee and the saints we may always love and praise the Triune God. Amen.

#hearing mass #plague #method of hearing mass #method of assisting at mass #holy mass

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pamphletstoinspire · 4 years

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Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost - Latin Calendar - 09/06/2020

by Fr. Francis Xavier Weninger, 1882

“And when He came nigh to the gates of the city, behold! a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow.”–Luke 7.

by Fr. Francis Xavier Weninger, 1882

Christ, accompanied by a great multitude, approaches the city of Naim, and behold! the corpse of a youth was just borne out of the city gates, followed by a number of people, and his grief-stricken mother. It seemed an accidental meeting, and yet it was not so. Christ, the life, meets death, and again breathes life into the corpse. This unexpected meeting, especially as the dead body was that of a youth, reminds us of the certainty and proximity of death and of the uncertainty of life. It is ordained that all men shall die, as Holy Scripture assures and experience teaches us; and yet, how careless man is in this regard, and what little benefit he derives from meditating upon this truth. Nevertheless it is a truth which, when duly considered, will exert a most decided influence on our lives, and will urge us to arrange the affairs pertaining to our salvation.

Holy Scripture assures us even in the Old Testament: “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead.” St. Paul speaks of this continual remembrance of death as “The answer of death within us.

How sincerely I wish that, with St. Paul, we may all feel the continual warning of approaching and certain death–the answer of death within us–and that we may not be seized with that forgetfulness of death, which is, alas! so common. Mary, patroness of a happy death, pray for us that we live in such manner, as to die, in your arms, the death of the blessed! I speak in the holy name of Jesus, to the greater honor of God!

When St. Anthony was lying on his death-bed, he was surrounded by hundreds of his spiritual sons, and they begged of him : “Holy father, you are about to leave us; advise us: which is the most influential, the powerful thought to animate one with great zeal in the service of God?” St Anthony replied: “Brethren, live every day as if it were to be the, last.”

With these words St. Anthony referred to the certainty and nearness of death, but at the same time also to the uncertainty as regards the time, the place, and the manner of death. Nothing else in this world is infallibly certain and sure. The wealthiest may become indigent; the most powerful may lose his crown ; the healthiest may be stricken with disease. Yes, even as regards the last judgment, and heaven and hell. No one knows with infallible certainty what shall be his portion forever; but one thing every one knows he must die.

A multitude followed the corpse of the youth. Every person who joined the procession must have thought within himself: I shall also one day be thus borne to my grave. But when? No one knows. This youth who is borne away as a corpse did certainly not imagine that he was to die before his aged mother.

He who constantly reflects upon what I have said, and lives as if every day were his last, needs no further incentive in order to lead a holy life. And why? This will appear evident when we reflect in what Christian perfection consists, and how the remembrance of certain and approaching death will influence us in this respect.

In the first place, Christian perfection requires a heart free from sin. Shun evil. Therefore a person must, above all things, be able candidly to put this question to his conscience: Am I in the state of mortal sin or not? But this must be done as candidly and earnestly as if we were certain to die the following moment and be judged.

And when a man has thus proven himself, his faith requires of him, that he reconcile himself to God by an entire and sincere confession. But nothing will better bring about this change than the remembrance of the certainty and proximity of death. If one confesses in such a manner, as he will wish to have done when the cold sweat of death stands upon his brow, he will confess well. And that our confessions may really be good and valid, let this truth urge us to the conscientious performance of this duty; do it well; you do not know whether you will ever again have another opportunity; it is, perhaps, your last confession.

“Father, this is probably your last confession,” thus St. Vincent de Paul was addressed by one of his spiritual sons. The saint replied: “Friend, for a number of years I have said to myself: This confession will, perhaps, be my last.”

But to reconcile ourselves to God is not our only obligation; the most important duty is, not to sin again, not to suffer a relapse. What causes a relapse? Fresh temptations. These temptations come to us in divers ways: We are tempted by the concupiscence of the flesh; the world tempts us by her allurements and pleasures; Satan tempts and endeavors to deceive us by investing forbidden objects with delusive charms and attractions. It is especially by means of the honors, possessions, and enjoyments of this life that the world, the flesh, and the devil tempt us. And, no doubt, these things, viewed in the light of the present, possess various charms, and can become snares and dangerous temptations.

But the vivid remembrance of the certain approach of death will nip all these temptations in the bud, and will render them powerless. For what are all worldly possessions, when viewed in the twilight of life's fading day? Dust! What are all the honors of this world? Vapor! What are all sensual enjoyments? Dross!

And even the satisfaction which man enjoys for a time in the possession of wealth, honors, and sensual pleasures will soon end in death.

If we listen to the voice of death within us, the power of temptation will be completely destroyed; because this remembrance of death is inseparably connected with the remembrance of that which is to come after death, and which will decide our eternal destiny. Therefore, the Apostle after saying: “It is appointed for all men once to die,” immediately adds: “And after this the judgment.”

How could man remain in the state of sin, if he constantly reflected upon the terrors of judgment, or how ever relapse into sin! The Memento mori–the remembrance that very soon death will usher you into eternity is the surest preventive against the evil of sin.

This constant remembrance of our end likewise effects the sanctification of our lives, and encourages us in our endeavors to attain Christian perfection; it urges us to accomplish the holy will of God perfectly, in all places and at all times; it puts us in mind of the value of time, and the necessity of making good use of the present; it encourages us not to lose a single moment in the great work of our salvation, nor to neglect the increase of our glory in heaven. But nothing can so clearly prove the inestimable value of time as death, the certainty and nearness of death!

“Time, thou art worth as much as God,” St. Chrysostom was wont to say ; ” for on every hour of time depends a crown for eternity; to win time, is to win God; to lose time, is to lose God.”

Death deprives us of this exceedingly precious gift; a gift for which the angels and saints of heaven envy us.

Now, that we live but once, this once will decide our eternity; this was a maxim of the saints. When once time has flown, it will never again return. We feel this most vividly when attending a death-bed, and considering the last breath which the dying person draws. Now he has expired now his eternal fate is sealed. Not another opportunity of performing a good deed, of increasing his heavenly joys.

I ask: Is there any thing which can urge us more to improve our time for the approaching eternity, than this certainty and proximity of death, this voice of death within us? Oh, that every case of death brought to our notice would remind us with renewed force of the certain approach of eternity!

You should do more; every evening whilst offering your prayers to God, reflect upon some particular circumstance of your death. Think of your last confession, of your last Holy Communion, of extreme unction; and of what you will experience when your soul takes leave of your body; think of your grave, of your appearance before the judgment seat of Christ.

Do this, and no doubt the advice of St. Anthony will not only prove beneficial to his religious sons, but also to you, for the sanctification of your whole life! Amen!

“And when he came nigh to the gates of the city, behold a dead man was carried out, the only son of a widow.”–Luke 7.

There is nothing more certain than death. Everything else is morally certain, possible, probable, as far as regards our future.

Last year we reflected upon the influence this consideration exercises upon our will; it causes us to form the resolution of living as true children of the Church, according to our vocation, to avoid sin, to practise virtue, and to make the best use of time. Even the longest life, how brief it is! and how near is death! How short is a year! Observe how quickly the moon waxes and wanes, and, after thirteen of these changes, a year has passed. And the life of man numbers but seventy or eighty years, and how few reach this age! the majority of those born into the world die as children, and many in the prime of life! The deceased of whom the Gospel of today makes mention is a youth.

You will die,–that is certain; and you will die soon,–this, too, is certain; but how and where you will die is uncertain, also the manner of your death. But it is not exactly so in reference to the moral condition of your soul; and its state, at the time of death, is of the utmost importance.

A proverb says: “As is life, such is death,” therefore, if you have lived indifferently, the troubled death bed of the tepid Christian awaits you; but if you have lived a zealous and holy life, then on your death-bed you will feel the consolation of the just.

Brethren, let us today reflect upon this contrast, and in our dying moments we shall not regret having done so, provided we profit by the light that the Holy Ghost will send to illumine our minds. Mary, our protectress in death, obtain for us, from your beloved Son, the consoling death of the just! I speak in the holy name of Jesus, to the greater honor of God!

What, in the first place, causes the lukewarm Christian sadness and affliction of mind on his death-bed, is inordinate attachment to the goods of this world. No doubt, all who lead an indifferent life will attach themselves more or less to the things of this world; but it is particularly the case with persons who have labored incessantly and under great difficulties to acquire temporal possessions, and who have anxiously provided for their comfort.

This country furnishes many instances of this kind. Many a one who came over from Europe at first settled in the backwoods; there he occupied a log-cabin, and by dint of labor cleared and cultivated the land. Then he erected a more comfortable dwelling, and gradually gained riches until finally he became affluent. Another commenced business in one of the larger cities, prospered, and became wealthy. But, lo! now death raps at his door, and he feels that he must die; he must take leave of all, and can not take even one penny with him!

No wonder that such a Christian, who, amid temporal cares, has abandoned the practices of devotion and of Christian zeal, sighs, with Agag, at the approach of death: “And dost thou part us thus, O bitter death?”

But how widely different the death of a child of the Church, who has led a fervent life, often thought of heaven, suffered, worked, and fought for it; who has already separated his heart from the transitory things of this world, and, on his death-bed, can joyfully exclaim, with David: “We enter with joy into heaven, to behold, to possess, and to enjoy the things of the Lord in the land of the living! ” Child of the Church, a similar death do I wish you. And what are the conditions? A zealous, truly Catholic life.

What furthermore renders the death-bed of the tepid Christian gloomy and fearful, is the inordinate attachment to blood relations. It is true there is a lawful, holy and sanctifying union among men, ties of relationship, friendship and virtue, and the heart must feel a pang at the moment of separation. But this sorrow will increase the merits of the dying Christian, because he resigns himself to the will of God; and, moreover, his sorrow is assuaged by the hope of a speedy reunion in heaven.

The lukewarm Christian experiences not this consolation; he feels only the grief of parting from those who are near and dear to him in this world. And again, how consoling for the fervent soul will be the thought: I take leave of my dearly loved ones on earth, but what an assembly waits to welcome me in heaven! I hope that very soon I shall be with Jesus and Mary, and all the angels and saints, with all my blessed friends and relations, who are anxiously looking forward to my entrance into the eternal joys. This thought gives comfort to the soul. A similar death do I wish you, my brethren; an active, Catholic, pious life will secure it for you.

The death-bed of a careless Christian is hemmed in with fear and anxiety, because the consolations of our holy religion have lost their power over him, and can not drive away the sadness of death. The tepid Christian may have confessed at times, but how? He felt no apprehension from his numerous relapses, and looked upon them as merely the result of human weakness. But now he becomes alarmed; were not these mortal sins into which he relapsed? Or, during life, he endeavored to persuade himself that he did not sin willfully; he did not consent. But now he fears that his confessions were not valid, because he did not express himself clearly as to this or that sin, or did not confess the number and circumstances, as he was obliged to do.

And what of his communions? Were they not, perhaps, unworthy, or sacrilegious communions? His preparations and thanksgivings were so short, so tepid, and, consequently, without effect. And now that he is to receive Holy Communion for the last time, his bodily sufferings will not permit him to dispose himself devoutly for the reception of the Blessed Sacrament as a preparation for his passage into eternity. He receives his last communion with fear and dread. But how unlike this is the death of him who, on this earth, has lived only for Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, who has received Him again and again, and each time more worthily, and who now receives his Lord, Redeemer, and the Spouse of his heart as the viaticum to eternal life! The priest places the Sacred Host upon his tongue, as a pledge of his salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Such a reception of the Holy Eucharist on your death-bed, do I wish you; your life,–a zealous, devout, Catholic life will decide.

What renders the hour of death terrible to a luke warm Christian, is the fear of death itself, and that which follows it the corruption of the body in the grave. Yes, to a petted worldling, who knows nothing of penance and mortification in this life, and who has always pampered his body, and gratified his senses, how dreadful the thought: What shall become of me in my last agony, when the cold sweat of death oozes from every pore, when death shall stretch my limbs? What, when all that remains of me on earth lies moldering in the grave, and is food for worms? It is not surprising that such thoughts fill the soul of an indifferent Christian with fear and distress! But how different the situation, if the dying person is one who has practised, during life, interior and exterior mortification, and who tastes not the bitterness of death, and looks forward to a glorious resurrection! The pious Christian remembers that it is only his body that lies within the grave, and that he shall one day find it again transformed and glorious, and be reunited to it for a blissful eternity.

What finally renders the death-bed of a lukewarm Christian fearful, is the thought of the coming judgment. When a soul is about to leave this world in a tepid and sinful state, even if after a good confession it is reinstated in grace, what a terror, what a fright, must weigh upon it, when, disfigured by the leprosy of countless venial sins, it appears before Christ, not knowing whether these sins may not be mortal! And how the soul will tremble when Christ is about to utter the sentence which will decide its fate for eternity!

Oh, could it but again return to the body, to lead a better, holier life! but then it will be too late, too late! May God preserve you from such anguish!

On the other hand, what a consolation and joy when a devout soul departs this life; and, freed from every stain of sin by the Holy Sacrament of Penance, hastens to the arms of its Redeemer, and, without passing through purgatory, enters at once into the joys of the Lord.

Either the one death or the other will be yours, and your life will decide! May God grant that it will not have been a lukewarm and indifferent, but a holy and virtuous life. Then to you may be applied the words of Holy Writ: “Precious in the sight of God is the death of His saints!” Amen!

“And they that carried it stood still.”–Luke 7.

“And they that carried it stood still.” Christ approaches the corpse, but He does not restore the deceased to life as long as the pall-bearers move on. “They that carried it stood still,” probably at a sign given by our Lord.

There is something very striking in this circumstance, if we consider attentively the miracle which Christ wrought at the gates of Naim, in its moral signification. For the raising of the dead to life has reference to the miracle of the conversion from sin to the state of grace, a change from the death of the soul through sin, to the spiritual life through grace.

The four pall-bearers typify four causes of the sinner's impenitence. These are: the proximate occasion of sin; want of prayer; familiar intercourse with sinners; and inordinate longing after enjoyment!

Yes, these are the four spiritual pall-bearers of the soul dead in sin, and as long as these do not stand still, so long will the funeral procession move on; and there can be no thought of a true conversion and spiritual resurrection. And although at times the sinner may appear to be converted, still we can very soon perceive, that, in the sight of God, he is still a corpse!

Let us today take a glance at the four pall-bearers of the soul dead in sin. Mary, refuge of sinners, pray for us, that we may awaken from the death of sin! I speak in the holy name of Jesus, to the greater honor of God!

The first pall-bearer which carries the dead soul of a sinner to its grave, is the proximate occasion of sin! How indispensably necessary the avoidance of the proximate occasion of sin is for a true conversion, can be readily deduced from the earnest and solemn words of Christ: “If thy eye scandalize thee, tear it out and cast it from thee; and if thy hand or foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee; for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body go into hell.”

But, alas! how many deceive themselves in this respect, and imagine, if they but form the good resolution of not sinning again, it matters little whether they remain in the proximate occasion of sin; this, in their opinion, is no sin. But that is a delusion proceeding from their defective instruction. The remaining willfully in the occasion of sin, is already a sin; and if there is danger of mortal sins, the sin of remaining in the occasion becomes mortal; because to remain willfully therein, is to expose one's self willfully to sin, which is in itself an offense.

Experience verifies the warning of the Holy Ghost: “He who loveth danger, shall perish therein.” To remain in the occasion of sin, is like putting fire, if it be but a burning match, to straw, and then saying: I do not want the straw to burn. But it will burn nevertheless, and you will be the cause. This warning has reference especially to the lewd, to drunkards, and to those who are intimate with persons of loose morals.

The second cause of the sinner's remaining in the sleep of death,–the second pall-bearer of his soul, is the neglect of prayer and the Holy Sacraments. As a rule, persons commit grievous sins only after having first become careless in their prayers and in the reception of the Holy Sacraments. For these are the means of grace ordained by God, and these alone enable us to subdue temptations, and to practise virtue. There are many who sin continually, but at times they appear to be converted; and yet, how very soon they are again spiritual corpses! And why? They omit their morning and night prayers; do not attend divine service; neglect spiritual reading, and the reception of the Holy Sacraments.

We do not go too far in affirming: That all those who begin the day without prayer, who do not think of God during the day, and do not pray at night; who are careless in attending divine service, or do not go to church at all on Sundays and holidays; who are negligent in the reception of the Sacraments, all of these belong to the class of the spiritual dead. They may confess at times, and appear to do better; but until they begin earnestly to say their prayers, to attend divine service as is their duty, and do not receive the Holy Sacraments only at Easter time, but frequently during the course of the year, their conversion will not be a true one. They will very soon lead the old life of sin; nor will they improve in this respect, unless they perform the duties of their holy religion earnestly and fervently, and frequently approach the Holy Sacraments.

The third cause why sinners continue their life of sin–the third pall-bearer of the soul is, familiar intercourse with sinners, their society and company. With the wicked you will be wicked and remain so.

As long as a person does not avoid familiar intercourse with sinners, he will open his heart to numerous temptations, and the bad example of others will have a pernicious influence; upon him. The bad example of sinners may be compared to the diseases of the body. When one is near a sick person, or is obliged to wait on him, one is in great danger of becoming infected with the disease. Physicians who attend the sick, make their visits as brief as possible when the disease is contagious, and hurry away, lest they may become infected!

The same may be said of sinners, whose example proves contagious. Such sinners may justly be compared to lepers. From these you must flee, as Holy Scripture advises. This admonition is addressed particularly to young persons. If your conversion shall prove sincere and lasting, you must avoid familiar intercourse with sinners; otherwise you will soon recommence a life of sin.

The fourth bearer of the spiritual corpse is inordinate longing for enjoyments –the love of sensual, boisterous pleasure, such as balls, plays, and noctural amusements; the reading of bad books, and especially the excessive use of spirituous liquors. Woe to him who already, from his youth, becomes addicted to drink, to frequent gin-shops,–is and gradually becomes a confirmed sot!

Oh! how seldom it occurs that an habitual drunkard is truly converted, that he avoids every occasion of intemperance, and remains faithful to his good resolutions! How often such persons, who, perchance, are not addicted to any other vice, seem to amend and still they do not really change; they lead the same intemperate life! And how sad are the consequences, both for body and soul! They ruin their health, destroy their domestic peace, and are living in the greatest danger of dying unprepared.

Is there, perhaps, a sinner among us whom these four bearers are carrying? Oh! I wish I could today cause them to stand still. For only then will your conversion be sincere, and, by the mouth of the priest, Christ will bid you: “Rise!” and you will be restored to the life of grace.

This standing still reminds us, moreover, of another very important fact. If we wish to be justified in hoping that ours was a true conversion, we must be able to refer to some period of our life, and say: Since that confession–it was a general confession–I did not relapse!

Rejoice, if your conscience gives you this testimony; you are in the right state, and you will be prepared to appear before God, and you will live in Him eternally! Amen!

#15 sunday after pentecost

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alvinsoffie · 4 years

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WORLD AIDS DAY 2020

December 1,

Theme: Each World AIDS Day focuses on a specific theme,

This years theme is “ Global Solidarity: Shared Responsibility. ”

A look back at recent themes gives an interesting perspective:

2020 Global solidarity, shared responsibility

2019 Communities make the difference

2018 Know your status

2017 My health, my right

2016 Hands up for HIV prevention

Personal awareness and responsibilty, coupled with Community support is a reasonable paradigm for moving the HIV/AIDS agenda forward. Embracing this can go a far way to achieve the Goals for eliminating HIV

" World AIDS Day remains as relevant today as it’s always been, reminding people and governments that HIV has not gone away. There is still a critical need for increased funding for the AIDS response, to increase awareness of the impact of HIV on people’s lives, a need to end stigma and discrimination and to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV."

I am quoting directly from UNAIDS here.

A useful way to compare The two pandemics: The 40 year old HIV/AIDS pandemic is the stately annual journey around the sun. COVID 19 is the 28 day cycle of the moon around the earth. It's busy and frenzied. Because it shares the same stigmas, the same governments the same communities; the same inequities: we get a quicker look at the cycle of events. Some countries are already on their third wave, their third cycle or go round of COVID 19. And lessons are being learned at this heightened pace.

This crisis, This frenzied pace has become a wake-up call, an opportunity to do things differently—better, and together. In many respects, the defeat of AIDS as a public health threat could depend on how the world responds to COVID-19.

Inasmuch as COVID 19 has overshadowed the AIDS pandemic. we DO note that some important lessons are being learned and that with care we can utilize aspects of the COVID 19 response to improve HIV response and awareness.

Since you have invited a religous, I believe that you are expecting some insight from a Christian or Biblical perspective, and if this is so, I wouldn't want to disappoint you.

I did some homework, a little research, and came away shocked! In a sense upset on learning that Stigma is the main deterent and source of frustration for battling and overcoming the effects of the AIDS epidemic.

As I looked at the seven types of stigma identified across a range of psychosocial situations, I came to realize that Stigma and its associates, prejudice and discrimination, are deeply ingrained responses that are applied outside of logic and wisdom, and where it surfaces can surprise you.

For the record the seven types of Stigma are:

PUBLIC, SELF, PERCEIVED, LABEL AVOIDANCE, BY ASSOCIATION, STRUCTURAL, AND HEALTH INDUSTRY PERSONEL.

All of these manifestation of Stigma are being experienced in real time in this COVID 19 pandemic. Lets not forget that persons were beaten for sneezing, an involuntary act. Fear and paranoia brings out the worst in us. Where they find common ground, the excesses are very dangerous.

To return to the global AIDS response; At a time when 'untraceable equals untransmittable is a reality already, It is strange that there is no obvious reintegration mechanism for the persons who can overcome the virus. Right HERE, such a mechanism or protocol could provide a rallying point against the stigma PLHIV face. It becomes a powerful incentive to reach for; a goal to achieve. This is one crucial difference with COVID 19, Governments want us to get back to work so there are tests and procedures for reintegration for those who have caught and overcome the virus. The reintegration is SPONSORED because it is deemed vital.

The HIV scenario still has gender bias and sexuality and dominance issues that drive the stigma and after 40 years they remain well entrenched globally.

What does scripture have to offer here. Both Old and New Testaments recognize a variety of diseases that initially demand isolation and removal from communal life. Numbers 12 points to a situation where Miriam the sister of Moses was punished with a skin disease and was out of the camp in isolation for 10 days. Even here there was a clear return to community. She wasn't cast into outer darkness with weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth! Israel camped and waited for her. Just a biblical reminder that it always help to have a celebrity or power person build empathy for your cause.

The reintegration mechanism was well defined. The priests were trained and were the ones assigned the inspection of the suffering person. Once satisfied of their rehabilitation, they offered the necessary sacrifice and were fully reintegrated into family and community.

In the Gospels where Jesus was remarkably open to transformative action on peoples behalf, his advise to cured lepers, to

" show yourself to the priests ...

and

" Offer the sacrifices Moses commanded"

leverages this generations old schema for returning the renewed back to community. Jesus did not subvert the process: he co-opted the process for the validation that it offered. The process is Critical! In real life more than a few persons doing well on their regime fall away and do not return for medication and help. The validation process is aborted by some triggered fear and more than a few will end up dead; losing their lives.

A lesson here is that education doesnt always defeat prejudice. In fact it can provide seemingly plausible justification for discrimination. This is why discrete access to health care for PLHIV is a necessity. Thank God for JASL.

The Label Avoidance Stigma is the most insiduous of the seven. It is the one that keeps the infected person from seeking help. in your community or elsewhere. They know full well that bush have ears and if you are seen in Mocho or Portland or Mandiville at a clinic the rumour mill will grind and your issues will be publicised. They keep quiet and die quieter still. I have seen it up close and it hurts my heart every time I am faced with it. Let me say it again; Thank God for JASL

Sadly, you are as likely to hear a pastor or preacher condemn the sick and declare God's judgment rather than provide access to care and counselling and in hospitals one has to deal with health professionals whose personal biases become stumbling blocks to personal healthcare services..some share unethically, the details of their patients, furthering stigma and discrimination ... very well documented.

If the church would follow Its Lord's instructions. If it would extend itself to speak for the voiceless

Someone came to Jesus for healing and the discussion began: 'Lord, If you choose you can make me whole'. Jesus said, 'I DO Choose!' If our churches would follow Jesus and choose to facilitate health and wholeness, a lot could change.

Church could stand with or stand up for the sick especially PLHIV/AIDS. it could do a lot to counter stigma, to counter the whispered inuendos that is Stigma by Association. Stigma by Association is the one that kills community support for the needy. It is the one that ties you to the presumed sexual preferences and activities of the persons you are inclined to help.

Churches could build support for members and persons who are HIV positive, but who would dare share their status with the brothers or sisters in church. Very few keep secrets, fewer still, exhibit compassion. We need radical Christianity of the leave all and follow Jesus variety.

Returning to the bigger stage, the theme Global solidarity, shared responsibility invites us to revisit our relationships and the activities they engender. Global solidarity invites us to explore the Global response and align ourselves with projects and activities that we are able to support. There are a plethora of them and myriad best practices scenarios waiting for our implementation.

One important feature of World Aids Day is the memorialization of the dead. Given the early stigma and circumstances of dying, many persons have not been properly remembered and closure is still eluding some families who have lost loved ones to HIV/AIDS.

The opportunity to come out and name them and remember them is hugely therapeutic. This is something that the Church does well. Catholicism provides a liturgy on All Saints Day, November 1 for the memorialization of our dead. We do it systematically and we know the benefits of it. We light the votive candle, we pray for those we love, and we ask God in his Love and Mercy to deal kindly with them.

There is a ministry here for churches. There is a place where we can quietly exercise the gift of presence as in grief counselling and just be there for those who need us. There is a place for a prophetic voice that can stop the slander and inuendo by its forthright affirmation of the Person living with HIV as a full and complete human being, bearing the image of GOD.

Even in death, the stigma continues and the cause of death for the death certificate can be problematic for family members. To remove Stigma is to open up the resources freely and fully for those who need it. This day must come sooner rather than later. these are difficult times, make no mistake. But we can make a difference if we try a little bit harder.

Shared Responsibility brings us back to Genesis and Cain's question ' Am I my brother'e keeper?' Yes! Yes we are. God requires an answer of each of us. We are social creatures We need each other for Fulness of living. We will need to develop more programs that bring real benefits to people living witH HIV

My word of encouragement for PLHIV/AIDS is simple: Keep the faith. HIV is no longer a death sentence. Serious progress has been made and you can access a good life right here, right now. Your Life is precious! Dont throw it away! Do NOT let pride or shame rob you of health and family, joy and accomplishments. Still dream... Most things are still possible if you believe and persevere.

Do the right things for yourself. There is now legal recourse to some forms of discrimination. Fight your battle for your life and find support for your cause along the way. Life is Precious.... DON'T give up! Fight Fight Fight!

With discipline and determination, the way things are going, you might actually outlive some of your detractors.

Here I want to quote and close with Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn,

“Whether as funding partners, technical informants for policy design and programme implementation, or as medical workers serving people living with HIV and AIDS at the community level, we need to have all hands on deck." the Observer November 20

I endorse All hands on Deck! The world can and must do better regarding the AIDS pandemic. We must remove the strictures and structures that maintain stigma and discrimination in all its forms.

I endorse all hands on deck and hope to see church and state join together to do the right thing for signicant numbers of our citzens who need our help

I endorse All hands on deck to design and build reintegration protocols and mechanisms for those on the margins right now. they dont need to be there!

I endorse all hands on deck if these hands are tender loving hands, desiring to nurture and to care for those in need. We have had enough of the finger pointing sleight of hand deception > I'm just saying:

I endorse all hands on deck in the response from governments, NGOs and Communities acting globally and locally. It is my hope that solidarity will facilitate the crafting of an accelerated response with a view to end Living with HIV/AIDS soon.

#world aids day #world aids day 2020 #plhiv/aids #plhiv

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brookscharis · 4 years

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christian girls & pornography

Ever since I posted a Tik Tok video with the same title as this post, my inbox has been flooded with girls and grown women who struggle with the same temptation that I have.

It might be pretty jarring to come across a Christian girl talking about her struggle with pornography but, it happens. And if my DMs are only .0001% of the population of Christian girls who struggle with lust, then I’m pretty sure every 1 in 2 girls probably has a secret habit of this too –– not even exaggerating. Women are humans with sexual urges too, just because we love Jesus doesn’t mean we don’t wanna do the do (after marriage, of course). But that’s where the struggle starts. As a single woman, we know that it’s God’s will for us wait until MARRIAGE. How can you wait that long and not explode? How is it even practical in terms of knowing your body before your husband does? It leads to a lot of curiosity about sex and a need to understand why it’s so forbidden.

I saw my first pornographic video as a computer pop-up at 8-years-old. Since that day, it opened a curiosity about sex and what that entire “grown-up world” was about. Like any kid who grew up with the internet and didn’t know something, I googled “sex”. You can only imagine what I got myself into. It’s almost funny but it’s actually super traumatizing. I was bound to watching porn until I was a Sophomore in college. I always felt wrong and knew it wasn’t right after I finished, but I just took the few green lights from articles I found online about the joyous health benefits of masturbation and plugged my ears to my conscience screaming at me. I googled, “Is masturbation bad?” and of course, nothing but, “Nooooo, noo not at all! It’s healthy! It’s good for you to know your own body! It’s good for you to know what you like!” was all that I found. I didn’t think to google, “Is masturbation a sin?” I was 8, but maybe I would’ve had confirmation of the bad feeling that I had on the inside if I asked that question. Because, yes, masturbation is a sin (Matthew 5:27-30). Someone close to me could’ve told me this too, but that would mean admitting that I watch people have sex in my spare time... nah, I’m good. I isolated myself and felt so overwhelmed with shame. No one could know I dealt with this, I hid it and swore I would take it to my grave. But, like the saying goes “what is done in the dark comes to light” and my issues manifested in other ways. This habit led me to lust after my friends (bi-curiosity), feeling like a baby for being a teenaged virgin, and seeking validation from boys by wearing revealing clothes that I never actually felt comfortable in.

The question that I get asked the most is, “how did you conquer it?” How did I overcome, stop the habit, break the stronghold?

A little backstory.

So, my lifestyle and spiritual practice at 19 years old was anti-Jesus. I was down for anything, pretty much, except submitting my life fully to God. I didn’t have a religious affiliation, I just considered myself “spiritual.” My open-mindedness landed me in a toxic relationship with one of my closest friends who I knew was bisexual. When we began talking, we bonded over the law of attraction, manifestation, angel numbers, and we confessed to each other that we both watched porn –– it was attractive to her. Fast forward, after much emotional manipulation on both ends (I used her for validation and attention, she did the same), I ended it and I was ready to get serious about God. You see, I grew up a Pastor’s kid in church my whole life, I knew better and I was rebelling. I wanted the peace that surpassed all understanding, I wanted contentment, joy, and favor. That Christmas break, when I went back home from college, going to church felt different. I was engaged and hungry, I was spiritually poor and starved. That’s when my pastor read Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” That’s all I needed and I started pursuing God like never before. I blocked her number, I went back to school after my break and got rid of everything I owned that didn’t please God. I switched up the music that I was listening to, I fasted for the first time (and made it a real spiritual challenge for myself in order to get the most out of it), and I cut back on hanging out with my friends at the time. That’s when I stopped watching porn entirely, and it’s been a year since. Four months since I fell into masturbation.

Now, I understand how that didn’t really answer the question. That’s because there’s nothing that we can do to conquer anything, but abide in God. It’s the Holy Spirit that gives us a desire to live for Him, He speaks to us and called us to Himself before we say to ourselves, “I think I’ll give Jesus a chance.” That’s Him choosing you! There’s a moment when you snap out of it and notice how you’ve been living in the scraps of what this world has to offer, that moment for me was blocking the girl I was dating. Everything that represented that life had to go, from posters to clothes to what I watched online. I refused to be enslaved to that sin and I surrendered my sexuality over to my Creator.

One thing I want you to take away from this is that we are not the hero in our story. We don’t vindicate ourselves or conquer anything, God is our hero and Savior. It’s through Christ that we are more than conquerors. Not through our own strength or practical tips.

But they do help! Here are a few:

1) Guard your heart - don’t watch shows/movies or listen to music that’s centered around sex or has a lot of sex scenes in it. Otherwise, it will trigger you.

2) Be mindful of the company you keep - when you want to break free from sexual sin, you won’t find the support or good influences you need if your friends encourage casual sex. Entertaining conversations about sex might be triggering, too.

3) Remember that it takes physical effort and restraint to stop - this isn’t passive, you have to literally refuse and fight against it.

4) Call on the name of Jesus - forreal, tho.

5) Tell someone - it doesn’t have to be right now but, tomorrow isn’t promised and confessing your sins will set you free. James 5:16.

You’ve probably tried all of that and it didn’t work, that’s because it will never be enough. You’re not strong enough to resist something as desirable and satisfying as sexual sin, as humans (even Christians!) we love sin. There’s something in us that can’t get enough of it –– unless we love something even MORE than we love sexual sin. We must love God, He is our strength. The more time you spend with Him (reading His word, praising Him, worshipping Him, learning more about Him) the more you’ll be disgusted by sin. God changes your desires and you’ll get to a point where you can’t even bring yourself to open that website again. It’s a fight against the Spirit and the Flesh, principalities, and powers, it’s not one you can just grit your teeth and power through –– ya need Jesus!

Some of you will leave this post and have the spiritual motivation to spend some time with God for a few minutes, then you’ll be bored. You’ll think to yourself, “I really want to stop falling into this sin, but I guess I don’t want it enough because I keep falling asleep when I read the Bible.” That’s not true, beloved. We’ve all been there. Your level of engagement has nothing to do with how badly you want God to work in your life, you need the Holy Spirit to help you. Pray to your Heavenly Father and ask Him to give you the Holy Spirit so that you will enjoy and look forward to knowing more about Him.

This temptation can either destroy your relationship with God or bring you closer to Him. He can break this thing off of you, but it will be His working in you — completely. He fights our battles, our job is to be still and abide in Him. The more you love Him, the more you’ll hate sin because sin separates *you* from the One that you love, Him. However, it never separates *His* love from *you* (Romans 8:31-38), we can begin to feel distant and guilty which leads us to continue because we feel too far gone anyways. That’s a lie from the enemy. The more you sin, the farther you stray from God, but He never will give up on you. Read Luke 15, it’s never too late to come home — it’s all about having a relationship.

God could instantly deliver you from this but, how would that change your heart and bring you closer to Him? You would be grateful for a bit, then you might slip into another temptation to replace the porn. It’s through a relationship with God that your heart changes and you will not desire any sin. Because outside of looking at others with lust by watching porn, are you a liar? Do you steal? Are you disrespectful to your parents? Are you easily angered and offended? If you are, you’re guilty of more than just watching pornography, you’ve committed crimes against God. But, He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to take our punishment for the sins we committed. Jesus experienced God’s condemnation so we never have to, all we have to do is trust that God’s punishment for us was finished in Jesus’ sacrifice and repent – turn from our old ways and be a new creation. We don’t do this in our own strength, we do this through the Holy Spirit, there’s no way any of us can be more like Jesus without His help. If you truly accept Jesus (not just say the Sinner’s Prayer but allow it to change you), you won’t just go to Heaven, but you’ll receive the love, validation, contentment, and the intimacy that you’ve been searching for here on Earth.

I haven’t arrived fully to this point yet, it’s a process to become satisfied in Him as a Child of God. At times I fear that I haven’t really surrendered my life, there’s a lot that I still want to control like people’s perceptions of me and making sure nothing impedes on my nap time. However, I don’t doubt that God is greater. It takes time and devotion to love Him, I will continue to learn how to love Him for the rest of my life. But with love comes trust and trust leads to obedience, it’s like that for all of us.

God is not mad at you, He’s not ashamed of you, He doesn’t find you embarrassing and He is NOT disappointed in you. He loves you and He will fight this for you, all you need to do is receive His love by surrendering your life to His purpose for you and start living as the new creation that you are. You are a daughter of the Most High God, no longer are you a slave to sin.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

#christian christiangirl sexualsin freedom temptation sin tiktok christiantiktok

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heterowomanist · 5 years

Text

Three Short Paragraphs

A Rev. Steph Reflection

Advent Week 2 …Peace

Odes 1[i]

When I first read this ode, the first verse slapped me in the spiritual face, and I must admit I liked it. There is no exclamation mark at the end of the sentence, but at times, I read it as if there is. And then there are times I read it as if it is said in a whisper. What remains significant for me is that every time that I read it, I am searching for the same thing, Peace of Mind. And the verse never fails to deliver. It could be in the midst of pain, fear, chaos, love or joy, I always find peace when I read “The Lord is upon my head like a crown, And I will not be without him.”

The Ode writer pivots from the declaration in verse one, to a beautiful conversation between them-self and the Lord that lets the reader know just why they refuse to be without their Lord. It is full of the things that helps one not only remember their faith, but fervently hold onto it. In the midst of government[ii] and societal persecution[iii], as well as fighting among church leaders[iv], being able to remind one’s self that “The Crown of truth was braided for me, And caused your branches to bloom within me” can bring a spirit of peace that First Century Syrians most likely prayed for during liturgical moments.

In the midst of all the similarities that are going on in our 21st century, this Ode is a powerful reminder of the importance to take spiritual agency, and reclaim our peace. And a reminder to find rest in the Lord that lovingly provides the validation of that peace. There is a portion of Alice Walker’s four-part definition of Womanist that describes one as, “Committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female. Not a separatist, except periodically for health.”[v] During this Advent season, let us put our hope in holding onto our purpose without sacrificing our peace.

[i] Ode 1

“1 The Lord is upon my head like a crown, And I will not be without him./ 2. The crown of truth was braided for me And caused your branches to bloom within me. / 3. For it is not a barren crown that never blooms / 4. But you live upon my head And blossomed down upon me. / 5. Your fruits are full and overflowing They are full of your salvation.”

Taussig, H. (2013). A New New Tesatment. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt .

[ii] "The exclusive sovereignty of Christ clashed with Caesar's claims to his own exclusive sovereignty."[6]:87 The Roman empire practiced religious Syncretism and did not demand loyalty to one god, but they did demand preeminent loyalty to the state, and this was expected to be demonstrated through the practices of the state religion with numerous feast and festival days throughout the year.[8]:84–90[9] The nature of Christian monotheism prevented Christians from participating in anything involving 'other gods'.[10]:60 Christians did not participate in feast days or processionals or offer sacrifices or light incense to the gods; this produced hostility.[7] They refused to offer incense to the Roman emperor, and in the minds of the people, the "emperor, when viewed as a god, was ... the embodiment of the Roman empire",[11] so Christians were seen as disloyal to both.[6]:87[12]

Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire (n.d.) Wikipedia Retrieved December 11, 2019 from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians_in_the_Roman_Empire

[iii]“Christianity practiced an inclusivity not found in the social caste system of Roman empire and was therefore perceived by its opponents as a "disruptive and, most significantly, a competitive menace to the traditional class/gender based order of Roman society".[13]:120–126 Gibbon argued that the seeming tendency of Christian converts to renounce their family and country and their frequent predictions of impending disasters instilled a feeling of apprehension in their pagan neighbours.[18]”

Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire (n.d.) Wikipedia Retrieved December 11, 2019 from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians_in_the_Roman_Empire

[iv] Peter is Opposed by Paul over the Law - Galatians 2:11-14

[v] WOMANIST 1. From womanish. (Opp. of “girlish,” i.e. frivolous, irresponsible, not serious.) A black feminist or feminist of color. From the black folk expression of mothers to female children, “you acting womanish,” i.e., like a woman. Usually referring to outrageous, audacious, courageous or willful behavior. Wanting to know more and in greater depth than is considered “good” for one. Interested in grown up doings. Acting grown up. Being grown up. Interchangeable with another black folk expression: “You trying to be grown.” Responsible. In charge. Serious.

2. Also: A woman who loves other women, sexually and/or nonsexually. Appreciates and prefers women’s culture, women’s emotional flexibility (values tears as natural counterbalance of laughter), and women’s strength. Sometimes loves individual men, sexually and/or nonsexually. Committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female. Not a separatist, except periodically, for health. Traditionally a universalist, as in: “Mama, why are we brown, pink, and yellow, and our cousins are white, beige and black?” Ans. “Well, you know the colored race is just like a flower garden, with every color flower represented.” Traditionally capable, as in: “Mama, I’m walking to Canada and I’m taking you and a bunch of other slaves with me.” Reply: “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

3. Loves music. Loves dance. Loves the moon. Loves the Spirit. Loves love and food and roundness. Loves struggle. Loves the Folk. Loves herself. Regardless.

4. Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender.

Walker, A. (1983). In Search of Our Mother's Gardens: Womanist Prose. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

#Advent Christianity Peace Womanism EarlyChristianText

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littleblondesoprano · 5 years

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Yo, so you're the only witch that I know of/follow. Did you always believe/practice witchcraft or did something draw you to it? More and more lately I've found myself looking stuff up about it. I'm one of those 'won't believe it till I see it' types so have you had any like "oh shit, this actually works" kinda moments since starting to uh.. use it? (I don't know the right word for this?) ..but has it improved your life in any way???? - ⭐

Hey friend! I’m sorry it took a hot minute for me to respond, it’s been a day absolutely full of meetings.

I have not always practiced or believed! My grandfather was an independent baptist preacher (who was in the Hell’s Angels beforehand) and built/started a church named Agape in little ol’ Mebane, NC. So, I guess I was more-or-less raised independent baptist, with a belief in a singular God, but it never stuck with me. My mom was the first one to introduce me to witchcraft, so I’m kind of a hereditary witch? It started off with dream interpretation, I would have these really crazy dreams, and mom would help me write them down and figure out what they meant. She introduced me to energy work, protecting yourself with a ball (or shield) of golden light--she also introduced me to the concept of The Universe, and tickles from the Universe. She’s helped me with meditation, and working with tarot and numerology as well! Though, some things I’ve always been drawn to. When it comes to crystals and crystal work, apparently that’s something that was innate. I’ve always collected rocks and crystals, and they made me feel better--the crazy thing is, they’re always crystals that I love now. Citrine, clear quartz, rose quartz, those are my favorites and they’re the ones I collected the most.

As for my craft now, that’s something that I’ve developed through research and friends who were witches (but are no longer friends). Dream interpretation is still one of the things I’m best at, as well as pendulum work, but I’ve developed the skills of reading tea leaves, and working with deities, and I’m still working with tarot cards. I’ve also been told that I’m an Omnist; I believe every religion is founded (except Scientology, that’s not a religion) and should be respected,and there is truth in all. Which, I’m not really sure where I got that belief, but it’s always been there, and completely rings true to me.

Lol, you’re totally fine! I’ve most definitely had those moments! I’ve spoken to a psychic, who has predicted things correctly thus far in my life! I’ve used tarot and been validated--but the best thing, is when the Universe tickles. A tickle from the Universe, as my mom and I call it, is a coincidence that is more than a coincidence. Such as--we used to LOVE the show Ghost Hunters (before Jason thought everything was a ghost and they stopped debunking stuff) and the two main people, Jason and Grant, worked as plumbers for a company called Roto-Rooter. The company is pretty small and kinda defunct now, but there’s days when mom and I see Roto-Rooter trucks and we know it’s a tickle. We like to think of tickles as saying that we’re on our right path, we’re where we need to be.

I also know witchcraft is for me, because I’ve tried out quite a few different religions and one hasn’t felt completely right as this does. I was agnostic, Buddhist, Christian (baptist, pentecostal, catholic), pagan, and for a short spell, atheist. None have felt right, and I never got the sort of spiritual connection through them as I do now. Like, when I just labeled myself a Christian, I would pray, and I would beg, and I would just talk to God, but I never got a response. I wasn’t spoken to directly, there were no voices, there were no signs--and thus I became atheist. But now, as this weird witchy omnist, I get signs. I speak to the Universe and the Universe gives back. I still have a bible my grandfather gave to me, and wrote me notes in, and I sob like a kid every time I read it, and it’s completely valid, even though it’s not what I believe anymore.

So, yes--being a witch has improved my life. It’s saved my life and empowered me in so many different ways. If you’re interested, try it out! I’m always here to answer questions (and will not get offended, no matter what you ask) so long as it’s respectful. If I didn’t have my craft, I don’t know what I would do, but it’s made my life richer--even though I have to hide it sometimes.

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sparklingspite · 6 years

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why do you think christianity is perpetuated by fear and sensationalism? just curious 🤔

Oof okay so this is just my opinion as someone who very much used to believe in God and worked in ministry for like 6 years.

I had a fairly good experience in the church but looking back now as someone who got some space and eventually came to their own conclusions regarding faith, I feel like the culture is somewhat toxic and harmful in that there is so much pressure to just accept what you are taught, never stray from or question those teachings, and also pass those teachings on to children and strangers (which I did for years). There is no room for comfortable doubt or discussion, only acceptance and application. Otherwise you become a disappointment.

The fear aspect is two fold - the fear of hell and the fear of social repercussions. I used to weep at the thought of my father going to Hell because he no longer followed god. Because of this fear, I would guilt him into coming to church every now and then. I sat in my car and shook as I typed out a long text message, telling him I was worried about him and wanted to know why he stopped going to church all those years ago. Now, I’m experiencing the other side of it… and the whole social repercussions thing. Having to tell my best friend and then my mom that I no longer believe in god and seeing them deflate and cry and worry over me has been horrible and has led me to ghost all my other old Christian friends (I’m in a different city now) because I can’t bear to have those conversations again.

For people who are still in those tight-knit, spiritual social circles, doubts and questions that pop up on occasion are often won over subconsciously by fear. Even when I was very active in my faith, I was terrified of not truly being saved and going to Hell - so that’s what I mean by Christianity being perpetuated by fear. It traps anxious doubters and also drives evangelicalism. Btw, if I was a fully perfect, loving, and good God, I would not make humanity choose between allegiance to me and eternal damnation - that’s not loving or good…

Regarding sensationalism, I feel like this is more of a modern development in some ways. I went to a megachurch with like 5 different campuses, upbeat worship services, cafes, and youth programs designed to be as fun and engaging as possible. Churches like this create a pleasing and fun environment to make the doctrine itself more palatable.

Another part is that I think people create the experiences they want/expect to have. I have been moved to tears during a worship service - but how much of that was influenced by sensory elements? Like the lights and the music and the collective singing. How much was influenced by my desire to feel like I had a connection with god (when I didn’t)? There were also services specifically for prophecy and hearing from god - but how are we to know that the prophetic words the deacons hear aren’t just their thoughts? Not necessarily faked - but perhaps adapted and accepted out of a need to feel valid. I feel like many people believe what they’re told and what they feel because they want it to be true, and they want to share in the experiences they see others having.

I once attended a service at a different, much smaller church, and the lady speaking asked if anyone had never spoken in tongues but wanted to. I raised my hand and got brought to the front where people gathered around me, laid hands on me and started praying over each other. I didn’t feel anything. The lady was really close to me, grabbed my chin and told me to open my mouth, to start letting out noises and that the holy spirit would take over. She basically wanted me to start rambling off gibberish. I didn’t want to fake it but so many eyes were on me and I had to do something… so I did.

This experience confused and bothered me so much but lo and behold, our megachurch pastor later confirmed her method by teaching our congregation how to pray in tongues - to just start making noises and saying the sounds that come to your head, that it feels silly at first, but with time you will truly be speaking in tongues with the help of the holy spirit. And I tried many times but felt nothing but stupid and fake. It wasn’t anything like the stories I’d been told about missionaries praying for people in another country and the holy spirit suddenly taking over them and the foreign person being like “omg you know Russian???” when the missionary didn’t. I just felt like the stories people told me didn’t match up with my own experiences, and yet I held on to them as proof of the reality of god.

In conclusion, I don’t have much of a problem with Christianity itself - just the pressuring and performative culture it’s created.

Maybe there are supernatural forces in the universe, but I don’t want to dedicate my life to them just because someone tells me to - especially when I have no evidence that they exist.

P.S. to anyone reading this: This is not an invitation to argue with me about religion! If you have different thoughts or beliefs, that��s cool and fine! But I’m not on tumblr to hear about them or feel even more evangelical sugar-coated pressure (which I myself have been guilty of). I only shared all of this because someone asked about something I said in the tags of a post.

THE END 🌈

#congrats you unlocked part of my backstory #can you tell I was a communications major in college?#my poor boyfriend has to put up with my long ass text messages all the time lol #ask

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theemichelleb · 5 years

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My walk with Christ

A good friend of mine suggested that I write about my spiritual journey because my perspective could be of help to somebody out there. I’ve been dwelling on what that post would even look like for a long time and I think this is my chance to stand on my own two feet as the woman I have grown to be and acknowledge my faith and my beliefs as an adult rather than what they “had to be” as a child.

Growing up in a COGIC christian household, everybody knows what I mean when I say “had to be.” Waking up every Sunday for church, bible study every Wednesday night, vacation bible school every summer, on as many ministries as you can handle as a little person, i.e. usher board, youth choir, or the praise dance team, and running up to the Pastor/Bishop/Shepard of the church after every service to say your hello’s and show you’re a good christian child. Oh, and don’t forget the church services that turned into praise services lasting for approximately 2 hours with nothing but praise ushered into the house by the band and choir on those Sunday’s when the leader of the house is out for whatever the reason may be. That was life for me. I’m extremely thankful to my mother for being holy and full in her faith to never let me fall by the waste side; she is the foundation of my faith and my peace in being who I am as a Christian woman.

As a child it was necessary to help me understand where my protection, favor, and blessings came from. My mother always told me she knew I was special when she found out she was pregnant with me at 44. I meet new people all the time and I am always told there’s a glow about my presence and who I am as a black woman that I can’t take credit for. I am who I am because my mother covered me in the spirit and asked God to walk with and protect me through all my days. I do not make moves without first consulting God and then waiting for his validation that what I am trying to do is a part of his plan for me. I know he placed me on this earth for a purpose and that’s what I pray every day to move closer to attaining to make him, as well as my father, proud.

When you’re growing up in a black church, you’re kept out of grown folks business… like most things when it comes to the black community. The politics that come along with being a member of a church are truly disheartening sometimes, but we’re protected from that as kids most of the time. There are a lot of judgmental people within the church and, although I have not experienced it as much first hand, I have watched people very near and dear to me be victimized by the church. You don’t understand snide remarks and underhanded comments when you’re 7 or 8, but you see the affects of them down the road when those who were attacked are no longer around.

Let me redirect you, however, because this post is not about my negative experiences with my faith but rather how I continue to move forward with it no matter what.

As I said, my mother had me when she was 44 years old, which added a different layer to my church experience. Everyone assumed I was her grand daughter because of the age gap, but I was treated with a sense of protection; especially after my father passed. That’s probably my favorite thing, having an extended family that watched over and protected me no matter what. My protection comes from the kind and nurturing spirit my mother has that was also passed on to me. I hear so often how beautiful my spirit is and how comfortable people can be with me… which again I credit that all to God.

I, like many college students, slowly drifted away from my overly frequent attendance at church. I found hesitance in sitting under teaching and preaching in a new place of worship; mainly because you never know what those leaders are practicing in their personal lives. I grew up with a Bishop that was accepted by my family, presented himself with the same spirit in front of the congregation as he did in the private presence of my family, him and his family helped mine in a time of transition after they moved to VA, and, if for no other reason, I clung to him because he favored my father’s physical appearance. He taught me everything I know and practice in my personal life because he leads by example. He was a true angel and I’m thankful for him and everyone else that helped mold me into the woman of God that I can openly say I am today.

But!

I am not an angel.

I am not a perfect church girl.

I am not the child I use to be.

I love all types of music. I have my periodic run in with use of less than desirable language. I have tattoos and piercings. I drink occasionally. I don’t always make the “right” decisions. I criticize myself. I struggle with loving myself. I struggle with loving others.

I. Am. Human.

My walk with Christ is about self-reflection, being faithful, and doing good while on this Earth. We only get one chance to do life, and I choose to do life with God everyday. He covers me, helps lead my way on the path he predestined for me, and helps me leave a piece of him with every person I come in contact with. When I hear about that light or glow that tends to follow me, I thank God for blessing me with faith so visible it shines through my presence. I know I am not perfect and I pray that nobody holds me to that standard… it’s too heavy a burden to try to bear. I know I make mistakes and at times I punish myself for not being what I thought I would be as an adult. It’s hard living up to something that I couldn’t have understood as a child, but I do my best to live up to being a good God fearing woman. I treat others with love and kindness as much as possible, and don’t let this world get to me in ways I can’t control. I do believe in scripture and the stories told of God and his will for us as his children, but I understand those stories were written by men.

I’m not here to convince anybody of what I believe. If you take nothing else from this, the one thing I ask you to do is to look at your life and decide if you are living one you would want your children to live. Are you creating a legacy to make God proud? There are so many walks of faith; from denomination to denomination and then within each denomination. I challenge you to not just be a body in a faith you don’t understand or accept anything less than what you truly know and feel is right. Our godliness is in how we treat others, how we treat ourselves, and how we pass on joy peace and love. I believe God placed me here for reason and I pray I touch as many people with that vision and love as I possibly can.

Something that I struggle with largely is with disappointing my family, mainly my mother. I often find myself looking at my life and wondering how far I’ve fallen from the tree, but as soon as I question myself I learn new things about my spiritual mentors that I never would have guessed; these things make me realize we’re all only human. Accepting I am no longer a child and that’s it’s okay to make my own decisions is the most challenging part of being an adult for me. As the days move forward I get more comfortable with being in my own skin and trying not to live a life that others tell me I should live. I don’t fit into the textbook definition of what a Christian woman is and I know that. Sometimes… that scares me the most… but then I remember God still loves me. I am his child.

My relationship with God is my most prized possession.

Be courageously different, even if the “norm” doesn’t always agree… they can’t see a vision that wasn’t created for them.

I have flaws and I have a long way to go to be the best version of myself that I can be, but I am working towards that goal everyday, every hour, every minute, and every second. I enjoy life because it’s a blessing God grants me everyday I wake up, and I am not shameful of loving him the way I do or living my life to the best of my ability the way I have.

Remember, next time before you judge that person, act in love.

It’s not always about matching up to somebody else’s holiness… everybody’s level grows at it’s own pace, the same way everybody’s D.O.P.E. isn’t at the same level.

Be the D.O.P.E. child of God he created you to be. Somebody is waiting to experience your blessings and somebody needs to be influenced by your faith and purpose.

#faith #spirituality #spiritual #God #Christ #Christian Life #Christianity

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milkboydotnet · 6 years

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Thoughts on the Christian Left

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." –James 1:22

Revolution is not a hobby. The kin-dom of God is not an ideal. This work can kill us.

As leftist Christians, martyrdom is a thread that ties our faith to our politics. The most incarnational act: embracing divinity through facing mortality. Jesus – fully God, fully human – showed us that combating the demonic forces and systems of this world may cost us our lives.

This isn't something we can just daydream about. Or read about, talk about. This demands all that we are, our whole lives.

Christ has called us to die to ourselves. To die to the ways we oppose justice and liberation, and the ways we abuse and exploit. To live in a Light that exposes us, and accompanies us into repentance, a transformation of mind.

But this call is to physically die as well. To follow the demands of love, even if it means being persecuted, physical tortured, or murdered. Executed.

For Christian leftists, revolutionary work cannot be separated from our faithfulness to Christ. Christ demands us to fight for a new world. We stand on his sacrifice, as well as the sacrifices of the saints and revolutionaries who have gone before us, and the millions who believed it was time to build a new world in the ashes of the old. Their imagination and courage has led us here, and they stand with us today, intending on broadening our empathy and imagination, and walking us to the new world they died for. Their blood cries out, and we have to answer. Boldly. Fully. With all our lives.

We will be called fools. We will be ridiculed. The pattern of our lives is meant to be upset the powers that be. We will be sojourners, journeying forward in a world that has little room for us. And we must not water down our faith and politics to make sense to anyone, especially the institutional Church. Though there are a number of valid and holy reasons one may choose to participate in the institutional Church, we also need to stop settling for fellowship. The Church so many of us believe in can be a reality. We can find others who desire to follow Jesus into revolutionary work, and with them we can discover a discipleship that forms whole communities into holy fools. This may feel impossible but the reality is that many are hungry for an apocalyptic movement. As Jesus told his disciples, "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

After Christ's ascension, his disciples gathered in prayer. Soon enough the Spirit was poured out in power. The presence of God was tangible and doxological glossolalia streamed out of the disciples' mouths. They found themselves stumbling deeper into love, and into a kin-dom life they never previously imagined. They were marked, changed, converted once again. This communal mystical experience led these disciples to sell all their possessions and property and share all things in common, determined to give to all who had need. To them, this was essential to the gospel.

The gospel of the kin-dom is material. It's for the here-and-now. In order to live into our gospel, and to offer this kin-dom, we need to manifest God's abundance and provision. We have no choice but to support efforts to create mutual aid among the people. Like the Pentecost-haunted disciples, we are called to form base communities that create systems of mutual aid and build alternative power to the state. We need to be present to the revolutionary currents around us, materially and physically supporting their work and offering spaces of healing and prayer for engaged revolutionaries, and all those suffering under capitalism. For the disciples present at Pentecost, living into such a call led them to radically restructure their lives in order to commit to life together, and in order to sustain their shared ministry.

Committing to Christian discipleship in such a way, at least to some degree, is seeming more and more necessary. The Church many of us dream of will require more than gathering folks with similar interests. It requires disciples of Christ communally pledging to bear the cross of struggle. Under the isolating and murderous force of capitalism, living together in some monastic form seems like one of the few ways we can create space and time for committed revolutionaries.

What is next for the growing movement of Christian leftist militants? It's hard to say. We need, first and foremost, to demonstrate apostolic commitment. We need to be willing to give up everything in order to build Christ's church, strengthen insurrection all around us, and to build the base. We need to stop waiting for somebody else to do it and take responsibility for the keys of the kin-dom that Christ gave us. We need to get over our sense of insignificance, crucify our flakiness, and accept, like Peter, that we are the rock that he will build his church.

Not only that, but we need the Holy Ghost. We need a Pentecost. The forming Christian Left has enough ideologues, perhaps even too many. We need revolutionaries baptized in Christ's martyrdom. We need doers of the word. Like the disciples at Pentecost, we need the experience of God in order to stretch our empathy and grant us the courage and joy to sacrifice our lives for a new world.

A disciple committed to revolution needs to face the heavy costs of following Christ and needs to reconcile themselves to this. The presence of God grants us a peace that surpasses all understanding. It may not fix everything, but it sits with us, holding us, opening up our vision to divine creativity, filling us with fire from heaven. We cannot separate our faith from our politics, but instead we need to live into both with apocalyptic fervor. We need to live like the gospel is true. We need the Holy Ghost.

Many Friendly Fire members came back to faith, or experienced a re-conversion, when they began developing revolutionary convictions. Our religion, a tradition with a God who is a political martyr, began to feel true again, and the experience of God began to inspire and nourish our work, and sustained our survival under capitalism. We pray for our hearts and communities to be converted again and again, into revolutionary discipline and into genuine love for the masses. May the Holy Spirit gather us, knit our hearts together, and build a living movement among us. "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." –Ephesians 3:16-19

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